the socio-cultural impacts on a destination can be both positive and negative. According to Global Development Research Center, tourism can enhance local cultural awareness. While observing Koh Tao I found that the Thais conserve their cultural heritage and traditional values through performing arts, such as the traditional fire dancing. I also found that the traditional holiday of Songkran, the Thai New Year celebration is a very much celebrated holiday by locals and even by tourists.
Another positive impact of tourism is on the arts and crafts industry. The fact that while walking the streets in Koh Tao one can find many shops with traditional wood carvings and handmade jewelry shows that they are popular amongst tourists who buy them as souvenirs and great for the local Thai people who make them and sell them.
Tourism can enhance local cultural awareness . It was shown in Koh Tao that the local cultural awareness has been greatly enhanced due to tourism. The following is a quote made by a member of the Save Koh Tao foundation which is one explanation as to how tourism has enhanced local cultural awareness.